On the Water
On the Water
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1994
Book Brief
144
Novel • Fiction
Amsterdam • 1930s
1994
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Set in the run-up to the Second World War, On the Water (1998), a novel by the Dutch author H.M. van den Brink, follows working-class Amsterdam teenager Anton as he joins a rowing club, where he is paired with well-to-do David under enigmatic German coach Doktor Schneiderhahn. Anton navigates snobbery, forms a deep bond with David, and finds solace on the water amid the looming war. Topics of discrimination and wartime events are present in the narrative.
Contemplative
Melancholic
Nostalgic
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
On the Water by H.M. van den Brink is praised for its poetic language and evocative descriptions of rowing and friendship. The 1930s setting is effectively nostalgic, though some readers find the pacing slow and the narrative somewhat sparse. Overall, it’s an elegant exploration of youth and loss, appealing to fans of reflective literature.
Who Should Read On the Water?
An ideal reader for H.M. van den Brink's On the Water would be one who appreciates introspective tales of friendship and personal growth set against historic backdrops. Fans of Daniel James Brown's The Boys in the Boat or Ian McEwan's Atonement will find comparable themes of camaraderie and poignant storytelling.
144
Novel • Fiction
Amsterdam • 1930s
1994
Adult
18+ years
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